The Canadian government has launched a pilot program to monitor the departures of temporary residents with expired visas, including international students and visitors.
The initiative follows criticism of the international students program in a report submitted by Auditor General in March.
Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab stated that the pilot will work towards implementing an entry-exit system, applicable to visitors and temporary workers.
The initial system, in collaboration with the Canadian Border Services Agency, will be operational in the weeks ahead.
The immigration department will flag and investigate suspected cases of potential fraud, with all cases reviewed by the end of this year.
A report on International Student Program Reforms submitted to Parliament in March highlighted 153,000 cases of temporary residents with study permits considered suspect between 2023 and 2024.
